Thrust bearing system and method for operating the same
AssigneeVector Technologies LLC
InventorEli Oklejas, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid machine and method of operating the same includes a pump portion having a pump impeller chamber, a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a turbine portion having a turbine impeller chamber, a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet and a shaft extending between the pump impeller chamber and the turbine impeller chamber. The fluid machine also includes a first bearing and a second bearing spaced apart to form a balance disk chamber. A balance disk is coupled to the shaft and is disposed within the balance disk chamber and a turbine impeller coupled to the impeller end of the shaft disposed within the impeller chamber. A first thrust bearing is formed between the balance disk and the first bearing. The thrust bearing receives fluid from at least one of the pump outlet or the turbine inlet.
Claims23
A fluid machine comprising:
- a pump portion having a pump impeller chamber, a pump inlet and a pump outlet;
- a turbine portion having a turbine impeller chamber, a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet;
- a shaft extending between the pump impeller chamber and the turbine impeller chamber;
- a first bearing and a second bearing spaced apart to form a balance disk chamber;
- a balance disk coupled to the shaft and disposed within the balance disk chamber;
- a turbine impeller coupled to the shaft disposed within the turbine impeller chamber;
- a first thrust bearing formed between the balance disk and the first bearing, said first thrust bearing receiving fluid from at least one of the pump outlet or the turbine inlet;
- a first valve selectively coupling either the turbine inlet or the pump outlet to the balance disk chamber;
- and
- a second valve receiving fluid from the first valve and selectively coupling the fluid to the first thrust bearing or a second thrust bearing;
- the first thrust bearing is formed on a first side of the balance disk and the second thrust bearing is formed on a second side of the balance disk.
A method of operating a fluid machine comprising:
- forming a first thrust bearing on a first side of a balance disk and a second thrust bearing on a second side of the balance disk;
- communicating fluid from a pump outlet or a turbine inlet to the first thrust bearing or the second thrust bearing formed by the balance disk coupled to a shaft by
- selectively coupling either the turbine inlet or the pump outlet to the balance disk chamber through a first valve;
- receiving fluid from the first valve at a second valve;
- selectively coupling the fluid to the first thrust bearing or a second thrust bearing from the second valve;
- rotating the balance disk between the first thrust bearing and the second thrust bearing;
- and
- generating an axial force in response to communicating the fluid in response to communicating.
A fluid machine comprising:
- a pump portion having a pump impeller chamber, a pump inlet and a pump outlet;
- a turbine portion having a turbine impeller chamber, a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet;
- a shaft extending between the pump impeller chamber and the turbine impeller chamber;
- a first bearing and a second bearing spaced apart to form a balance disk chamber;
- a balance disk coupled to the shaft and disposed within the balance disk chamber;
- a turbine impeller coupled to the shaft disposed within the turbine impeller chamber;
- a first thrust bearing formed between the balance disk and the first bearing, said first thrust bearing receiving fluid from at least one of the pump outlet or the turbine inlet;
- and
- a proximity sensor generating a proximity signal corresponding to a distance between the balance disk and the first bearing or the second bearing.
A fluid machine comprising:
- a pump portion having a pump impeller chamber, a pump inlet and a pump outlet;
- a turbine portion having a turbine impeller chamber, a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet;
- a shaft extending between the pump impeller chamber and the turbine impeller chamber;
- a first bearing and a second bearing spaced apart to form a balance disk chamber;
- a balance disk coupled to the shaft and disposed within the balance disk chamber;
- a turbine impeller coupled to the shaft disposed within the turbine impeller chamber;
- a first thrust bearing formed between the balance disk and the first bearing, said first thrust bearing receiving fluid from at least one of the pump outlet or the turbine inlet;
- and
- a heat exchanger coupling in fluid communication with the balance disk chamber,
- the heat exchanger communicating fluid between the balance disk chamber and a thrust bearing inlet port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.